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MG MGB Technical - what size rear axle filler

Cannot find anything to undo the rear axle filler plug - 1978 MGB - can anyone enlighten me to what I need to use to undo the filler plug?

Cheers,

Adrian
AdrianS

Hi,

Assuming its the type with the square recess, then what I and others have done is to get a short cheap 1/2" socket extension and grind it down to fit.

Herb
Herb Adler

It looks more like a hexagon fitting!
AdrianS

Adrian. Try a 3/8" allen wrench. I had one (out of six) cars that used a fitting taking that wrench. The others had a square drive hole.

Les
Les Bengtson

I used a 1/2 socket extension this past week. The plug to drain the axle came off very easily without a perfect fit. The filler plug I used heat and then was able to get it off with the 1/2 socket extension very easily once it broke free. Both plugs were very easy to unscrew.

I bought a lenght of tube from the hardware store for very cheap to aid in filling the axle. It takes a while, but it works.... I used a 75w 90 mobil one synthetic but your supposed to use 80w90 conventional hypoid.
JRB Mr

I would only add that I would ensure the filler plug was removable before I removed the drain plug. I could live with driving on with aged/low lubricant. I would not happily drive with a drained diff which could not be refilled.
Roger T

Adrian, I use a 3/8" Allen key ('79 and '80 Bs).
Brian Shaw

In the past I used a 75w oil and the oil kept finding its way into the rear brakes. The hub oil seals were changed, I switched to the correct grade of 90w oil, also kept the level down about a quarter of an inch from the filler hole and have had no more problems from it.
Trevor Harvey

Thanks for the info Trevor, Ill keep an eye out for that.
JRB Mr

Found an odd 10mm Allen key and ground it down to fit!
All sorted now!

Thanks for the info

ps the comment Trevor made about keeping the oil level down 1/4 inch from the filler would worry me: the level is already lower than the axle tubes and keeping it a bit lower may i think eventually starve the wheel bearings of oil. If the oil seals are good and the breather OK there should be no problem of oil finding their way onto the brakes.
AdrianS

This thread was discussed between 12/07/2012 and 13/07/2012

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